Multiple purpose guide and retention clip



Oct. 26, 1937. c. R. CHAMBERLIN ,0

MULTIPLE PURPOSE GUIDE AND RETENTION CLIP Filed July 17, 1936 Inventor (5 6117614 awk/Z By @Mm Attorneys Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES MULTIPLE PURPOSE GUIDE AND RETEN- TION CLIP Coleman R. Chamberlin, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 17, 1938, Serial No. 91,242

2 Claims.

structurally perfected a unique clip of a diversi- -fied nature susceptible of miscellaneous usage,

the same being in the nature of a metal tabconnectable to the edge portion of the article to be anchored or hung, as the case may be, 5 and characterized by certain refinements and improvements calculated to render it especially and aptly fitted for the special purposes recommended.- Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a simple and economical metal tab in the nature of a sheath, one end of the sheath being attachable to the article to be retained and the projecting end portion thereof having notched retention means essentially distinct in that a keeper spring is associated therewith.

My primary aim is to generally improve upon clips and tabs of this general classification by providing one having the connectable portion thereof formed with a keyhole slot, spring means being associated with said slot and noteworthy as safety retention means in that it is characterized by projectible and retractable detents cooperable with the restricted portion of the slot and spreadable under the influence of self contained cam elements.

Other features and advantages and the various uses to which the invention may be put will be brought out in the following detailed description, the accompanying illustrative drawing, and

the concluding claims.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate corresponding elements or details throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing how the clip may be attached to a file drawer or filing cabinet partitioning or divider cards to.

facilitate releasable anchorage of the cards in the complemental receptacle or drawer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the clip per se showing in detail the complemental or individual features thereof, the clip being shown in the making so to speak.

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical view 65 on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

By way of introduction to the detailed description, it is to be pointed out that the clip is susceptible of so many different uses that the description will reflect primarily the construction of the clip per se rather than its combination with any particular article of stationery, card, tag, or the like, with which it is employed as a guiding and retention device. As before indicated, it is somewhat in the nature of an attaching tab and it is unitarily referred to in the drawing by the numeral 4. Moreover, it is preferably constructed from a single blank or sheet of metal comprising duplicate companion portions 5 and 6 bendable into overlapping half-sections. 'The fold line is indicated at I, and at this point I provide opposed notches 8 to facilitate bending. When the parts 5 and 6 are bent together, they form a sort of a sheath or a double ply tab. The ends of the parts 5 and 6 may be joined together or joined to the article 9 in difierent ways. In the drawing the part 6 is merely shown formed with slots Ill to accommodate bendable tongues or retaining spurs H which pass through the part 9 and are clinched in place as illustrated in Figure 3.

The projectible end portion of the tab or clip is formed with coordinated notches or slots which combine in forming a retaining and guide notch which may be said to be a keyhole notch. That is to say, the notch includes a somewhat enlarged 30 inner end or seat I! and a restricted entrance neck l3. This arrangement allows the clip to be connected with an anchoring rod or hanger wire, rod, or similar element, (not shown) whose cross-sectional shape is such as to allow it to 35 pass through the neck i3 and rest in the enlarged inner end or seat l2.

A safety check device or guard is associated with the keyhole slot. As shown in Figure 2, it comprises a resilient spring wire bent between its 40 ends into a spring coil or convolution ll. The extremities ii are slidably mounted in the bend defining the juncture between the sections 5 and 6. Thus, the spring check means is clasped in an operative position between the parts 5 and 6 5 forming the enclosing sheath. It will be noted that the formation of the wire is such that the ends of the arm portions of the coil ll serve to provide projectible and retractable detents I6 cooperable with the restricted entrance or neck 50 portion IQ of the keyhole notch. The portions of the wire indicated at I! between the detents and slidable terminals l5 form spreading cams. These normally'project into the restricted entrance or neck I! in the path of entry of the rod or other support (not shown) with which the clip is separably connectible. v

The principle of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the clip or tab is shown fas tened to the attachable lower end of a divider card or follower member such as is used in a filing cabinet drawer for partitioning and dividing files. The attaching end of the tab projects beyond the lower edge of the card and is provided with the keyhole notch so as to permit it to be attached to the usual anchoring rod in the bottom of the drawer (not shown). As the tab is forced down over the rod, the cam elements I! serve to spread the detents l6 allowing the rod to snap into the retaining seat II. This provides the requisite resilient check and safety retention means for the clip or tab.

As before stated;.-the invention is oi 'extensively serviceable type and the following statements give some idea of the various purposes for which it may be used:

For suspending envelopes, maps, sheets, photographic films, dipped and sprayed materials and articles, drying materials and articles that are to be suspended from above; To be afilxed to the lids of boxes and containers of wood, metal, composition, plastic, or cardboard, where a temporary fastener is required.

To be applied to filing cabinet guides of every description.

To be attached to doors, drawers or shelves to prevent sliding and rebounding when opened or tilted, and yet are at the same time removable.

To be attached to gummed cloth or paper, which latter is to be applied to envelopes, books, prints, file guides, and dividers, maps, etc.

For application as a fastener on handbags, costumes, and slippers.

For applying as' integral parts of hangers on which garments and footwear are stored and displayed.

The fasteners may be attached to material with individual eyelets or with eyelets stamped out of clip metal.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawing will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood-that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a hanger or anchoring tab comprising a sheet metal body including duplicate sections and being foldable along a transverse line to dispose said sections in substantially overlapping relationship to form a sheath, means connecting the free ends of said sections together in assembled relationship, said sheath having a centrally located key-hole shaped notch opening inwardly and longitudinally thereof from the line of fold, and a U spring interposed between said sections and bordering the said notch with outwardly bent free ends disposed along the line of fold whereby it is adapted to be confined between the sections of the tab in the folded condition of the latter, the slot-bordering portion of the spring at the top of the notch being adapted to abut with and to serve as a stop for an article inserted between the free ends of said sections and the flat bordering portion at the bottom of the slot being provided with abutments projecting into the notch to provide complemental retaining detent and spreading cam elements.

2. In a multiple purpose guide and retention clip of the'class described, a substantially rectangular sheath comprising a pair of spaced parallel duplicate companion sections attachable at one end to a relatively stationary support, said sheath being provided at an opposite end with a notch opening through said last named end, and a safety retention member between the companion sections of said sheath, said member being in the form of a U-shaped spring registerable with said notch, the bight .portion ofsaid spring matching the inner closed end of said notch, the arm portions thereof bordering the longitudinal side portions of the notch, said arm portions converging toward each other and then diverging toward their free ends to form combinedspreading cams and resilient retaining detents projectible into the mouth portion of said notch, the extremities of the free ends of the arms of the U- a spring being confined between the aforementioned sections of the sheath and arranged slidably therein on opposite sides of the entrance portion of the notch.

COLEMAN R. CHALIBERIJN. 

